A gospel dispensation is a period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who bears the keys of the holy priesthood.

Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, and others have each started a new gospel dispensation. When the Lord organizes a dispensation, the gospel is revealed anew so that the people of that dispensation do not have to depend on past dispensations for knowledge of the plan of salvation. The dispensation begun by Joseph Smith is known as the "dispensation of the fulness of times."

The God of heaven set up a kingdom, Dan. 2: 44 (D&C 65). In the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, Acts 2: 17 (Joel 2: 28). The heaven must receive Christ until the times of restitution of all things, Acts 3: 21. In the dispensation of the fulness of times, God will gather together all things in Christ, Eph. 1: 10. I will establish my church among them, 3 Ne. 21: 22. The Lord committed the keys of his kingdom and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times, D&C 27: 13. The keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands, D&C 110: 12-16. All keys of past dispensations have been restored in the dispensation of the fulness of times, D&C 128: 18-21.